Teammate war 'valuable' for F1 and Mercedes, says Haug

Norbert Haug believes the warring teammates is actually healthy for both the sport and the Mercedes team.

Sep.4 (GMM) F1 should thank the warring Mercedes teammates for their spicy championship battle in 2014.

Let it be or take control?

That is the view of Norbert Haug, the former Mercedes chief who is today removed from the stresses that his successors Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe and Niki Lauda are facing as they manage the imploding relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Indeed, Mercedes has apparently struggled to handle the fallout of the silver-clad duo's clash in Belgium two weeks ago, but Haug sees the controversy differently.

Unlike Wolff and Lauda, who heavily criticised and actually formally reprimanded Rosberg, he thinks the incident at Spa-Francorchamps was nothing out of the ordinary.

After a clean 1-2 victory at Monza, Spa will be yesterday's news

Norbet Haug

"It should not happen, but it can happen -- even among teammates," Haug told Sport Bild.

"Especially when they are the only opponents for the world title and - rightly - when they are racing without team orders.

"Hamilton and Rosberg are battling it out on the track, which I see as particularly valuable for the Silver Arrows."

Bad for their image?

Mercedes' new management has regarded the Spa crash as bad for the German marque's image, but Haug thinks any damage will be quickly forgotten.

"After a clean 1-2 victory at Monza, Spa will be yesterday's news," he said.

You don't make omelette without breaking eggs

Haug alluding to Mercedes rivalry

And, anyway, he thinks that without the Hamilton-Rosberg battle for 2014 glory, "the world championship would not be even half as interesting in my opinion".

He says incidents like Spa are unavoidable when a wheel-to-wheel battle for the title is taking place.

"You don't make omelette without breaking eggs," Haug is quoted by Germany's Sky.

"I have seen it with David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen, with Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen, with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

"Fighting between two teammates was not invented this year!" he exclaimed.